# Australia Visit Visa for Indians Visiting Family or Friends > Visiting a son, daughter, sibling or friend in Australia? Compare the Tourist and Sponsored family streams, see what the invitation should say and how parents can stay longer. _Published: 2026-11-03 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1082_ ## TL;DR Indians visiting relatives or friends in Australia use the Visitor visa (subclass 600): the Tourist stream with an optional invitation letter, or the Sponsored family stream where the relative completes Form 1149. Both cost AUD 250 per person, and parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents can be given multi-year multiple-entry visas. ## Key takeaways - Two streams of the Visitor visa (subclass 600) fit family visits: Tourist and Sponsored family; both charge AUD 250 per person. - In the Sponsored family stream the relative in Australia completes Form 1149 and may be asked to pay a security bond. - Parents or step-parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents may get a visa valid for more than 12 months, but no more than 12 months' stay in any 18 months. - Home Affairs' global guide shows Tourist-stream applications at 50% in 21 days and 90% in 33 days; Sponsored family at 50% in 40 days and 90% in 3 months. - Every traveller, including children, applies and pays separately. **Indians visiting relatives in Australia apply online for the Visitor visa (subclass 600), either the Tourist stream with an optional invitation letter or the Sponsored family stream, where the sponsor completes Form 1149. Both cost AUD 250 per person, according to the Department of Home Affairs; Tourist-stream processing runs 50% in 21 days, 90% in 33 days.** ## Article All details are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. Our Australia visa overview for Indians covers study and work routes. ### Tourist stream or Sponsored family stream: which should you choose? Both streams let you visit family or friends; they differ in who carries the paperwork and how long a stay is normal. PointTourist stream (apply outside Australia)Sponsored family streamChargeAUD 250AUD 250Role of your relativeOptional invitation letterSponsor completes Form 1149; a copy goes in your applicationUsual stayUp to 12 months, generally 3 months, decided case by caseStandard 3 months; up to 12 months in limited circumstancesEntriesSingle or multipleGenerally single entry, with 6 months after grant to enterExtra conditionNone listedSponsor may be asked to pay a security bondProcessing (global guide)50% in 21 days, 90% in 33 days50% in 40 days, 90% in 3 monthsGrant rate, Indian citizens, Oct-Dec 202569.8% (Tourist Visitor, subclass 600/676)61.0% (Sponsored Tourist)The processing figures come from Home Affairs' global guide for recently decided applications from all nationalities, not India alone. For Indian citizens specifically, tourist visitor visas granted in October to December 2025 had a median of 14 days, with 75% decided within 23 days. The grant rates are from the Home Affairs Visitor visa program report and measure grants as a percentage of grants plus refusals in that quarter. They describe past decisions, not the outcome of your application. The Tourist figure was 73.2% in the same quarter of 2024. A practical reading: if your parents want a longer or repeat-entry visit, the Tourist stream offers more flexibility. The Sponsored family stream formally ties the visit to your relative's sponsorship and can come with a bond. ### Can parents of Australian citizens or PRs stay longer? Yes, within limits. Under the Tourist stream, parents or step-parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents may be granted a visa valid for more than 12 months with multiple entries. The cap is on time spent in Australia: no more than 12 months' stay in any 18 months. Home Affairs asks applicants requesting a longer stay to explain the reason and provide proof. For example, a parent coming to help after a grandchild's birth would state that reason and attach supporting proof from the family in Australia. ### What should the invitation letter from your relative say? For the Tourist stream the letter is optional but useful. Home Affairs lists what it should cover: - The relationship between you and the person inviting you. - The purpose of the visit. - How long you will stay. - Whether you will stay with them. - If they are paying, proof of their funds. For the Sponsored family stream, add documents that prove the relationship between each applicant and the sponsor: birth certificates, passport pages showing parents' names, a family register or marriage certificates. ### How do you show you will return to India? This is where most of the personal evidence goes. Home Affairs gives examples: - A letter from your employer saying you will return to your job. - Proof of study in India. - Immediate family who remain in India. - Ownership of a house or major assets. Pair that with proof of money for the stay and the journey home: itemised personal bank statements for a 3 month period, pay slips, audited accounts, tax records, term deposits or credit card statements. Retired parents can draw on statements, term deposits and property ownership from this list, and the inviting son, daughter or sibling can add proof of their own funds if they are paying. ### Travelling with children or grandchildren? Family members cannot share one application. Each person, including every child, applies and pays AUD 250 separately. For anyone under 18, add: - A birth certificate showing both parents (or accepted alternatives). - Form 1229 consent, or a statutory declaration, from any non-travelling parent, with their signed photo ID. - Form 1257 undertaking if the child will not stay with a relative or guardian. - Proof of legal guardianship, if applicable. ### What happens after the visa is granted? - The visa is digitally linked to the passport; no label is issued. - Your grant letter shows the stay period and whether it is single or multiple entry, which you can also check in VEVO. - Visitor visas cannot be extended. A new application is needed, and that is not possible with condition 8503 (No Further Stay) unless it is waived. - Health insurance is not mandatory, but you are liable for all healthcare costs in Australia and Home Affairs strongly recommends cover. Older parents should take this seriously, and Condition 8501 can be attached in some cases. Applications go through ImmiAccount; you must be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is decided. Home Affairs tells you if biometrics are needed; India was not on the Australian Biometrics Collection Centre list as of March 2026. The Department of Home Affairs office at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi manages visa services for Indian citizens, and enquiries go to the helpline +61 2 6196 0196. See the official Sponsored family stream page for Form 1149. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us via our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Can my relative in Australia apply for my visitor visa on my behalf? In the Sponsored family stream your relative completes Form 1149 as sponsor, and you include a copy in your application. You can also nominate an authorised recipient or migration agent with Form 956A or Form 956. #### Do my parents need a medical test for an Australian visitor visa? Only if Home Affairs asks. Health checks, police certificates and biometrics are listed as possible extra costs, and the department tells applicants when they are needed. #### Is there an INR fee for the Australia visitor visa? No. Home Affairs charges in AUD only and publishes no INR amount. The charge is AUD 250 per person when applying outside Australia. #### Can my parents apply for a visitor visa while already in Australia? Home Affairs has a separate Tourist stream for applicants in Australia, with a charge of AUD 630. Visitor visas cannot be extended, so a new application is needed, and that is not possible if condition 8503 (No Further Stay) is attached unless it is waived. ## FAQ ### Can my relative in Australia apply for my visitor visa on my behalf? In the Sponsored family stream your relative completes Form 1149 as sponsor, and you include a copy in your application. You can also nominate an authorised recipient or migration agent with Form 956A or Form 956. ### Do my parents need a medical test for an Australian visitor visa? Only if Home Affairs asks. Health checks, police certificates and biometrics are listed as possible extra costs, and the department tells applicants when they are needed. ### Is there an INR fee for the Australia visitor visa? No. Home Affairs charges in AUD only and publishes no INR amount. The charge is AUD 250 per person when applying outside Australia. ### Can my parents apply for a visitor visa while already in Australia? Home Affairs has a separate Tourist stream for applicants in Australia, with a charge of AUD 630. Visitor visas cannot be extended, so a new application is needed, and that is not possible if condition 8503 (No Further Stay) is attached unless it is waived. ## Sources 1. [Department of Home Affairs - Visitor 600 Tourist stream (apply outside Australia)](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600/tourist-stream-overseas) — Department of Home Affairs, Australia 2. [Department of Home Affairs - Visitor 600 Sponsored family stream](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600/sponsored-family-stream) — Department of Home Affairs, Australia 3. [Department of Home Affairs - Visitor visa program report, 31 December 2025](https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-stats/files/visitor-visa-december-2025.pdf) — Department of Home Affairs, Australia